THE major contract to design and build the 15.5-kilometre Northern Connector project has been awarded to preferred contractor Lendlease, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Stephen Mullighan announced last week.

"The Northern Connector will provide enormous productivity benefits for freight travelling between Adelaide and the northern, western and eastern parts of South Australia, as well as to and from other states," Mr Mullighan said.

Above: A 2011 artist's impression of the Southern Interchange of the Northern Connector / Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure.

The $985 million Northern Connector project is part of the 78-kilometre North-South Corridor, stretching from Gawler in the north to Old Noarlunga in the south. The Northern Connector project includes: